JWST Sees Hints of an Atmosphere on a Potentially Habitable Exoplanet
Hints of Atmosphere on Earth-Sized Exoplanet Raise Hopes for Life A monumental sign of an atmosphere on TRAPPIST-1e could be the precursor to finally finding a living world around another star By Jonathan O’Callaghan edited by Lee Billings This artist’s concept shows the volatile red dwarf star TRAPPIST-1 and its four most closely orbiting planets, […]
How to See Faster-Than-Light Motion
The UniverseFridays How to See Faster-Than-Light Motion Superluminal velocities are common but illusory By Phil Plait edited by Clara Moskowitz The light echo around the star V838 Monocerotis as seen by the Hubble Space Telescope in November 2005. Stay connected to The Universe: Get email alerts for this weekly column by Phil Plait When I […]
How Many Planets Orbit Our Nearest Neighboring Star?
New Instrument Checks on Proxima Centauri’s Planets Fresh results from near-infrared instruments foretell a bright future for finding life elsewhere in the Milky Way By Ivan Farkas edited by Lee Billings An artist’s impression of the Proxima Centauri system, with the planets Proxima b and Proxima d—the latter confirmed by the NIRPS planet-hunting instrument. Some […]
Starship’s 10th flight breaks streak of bad luck
Nell Greenfieldboyce SpaceX’s massive Starship rocket racked up some much-needed successes on its 10th test flight, hitting key test objectives and breaking a streak of failures that bedeviled the spaceship this year. The silver and black two-stage rocket, which stands about 400 feet tall, blasted off from the SpaceX facility in south Texas near Boca […]
SpaceX Successfully Launches Starship Spacecraft After String of Mishaps
SpaceX Successfully Launches Starship Spacecraft after String of Mishaps Overcoming three recent failed tries, Elon Musk’s rocket company successfully flew its reusable jumbo booster and upper-stage Starship spacecraft By Dan Vergano edited by Clara Moskowitz An earlier SpaceX Starship and Super Heavy booster are moved to the launch pad at Starbase in Boca Chica, Texas. […]
Israeli forces kill 67 Palestinians seeking aid in northern Gaza, Hamas-run ministry says
The Israeli military has killed at least 67 people waiting for UN aid lorries in northern Gaza, the territory’s Hamas-run health ministry says. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said that it had “fired warning shots” to remove “an immediate threat”. It disputed the number of reported deaths. Six more people were killed waiting for aid…
Age didn’t kill India’s beloved centenarian marathon runner. A speeding car did.
By Omkar Khandekar , Kusum Arora In London in the winter of 1999, running coach Harmandar Singh took on a new student who was older than his father. Fauja Singh was 89, thin as a reed, and had a scraggy beard that nearly reached his chest. For their first marathon training session that November morning,…
Unpacking the Conspiracy Around Dan Rivera’s Death, the Annabelle Doll
Paranormal investigator Dan Rivera was found dead while on tour with Annabelle. Now, some fans are blaming his untimely death on the allegedly possessed doll, which inspired The Conjuring films. The internet has been conjuring up theories around the sudden death of paranormal investigator Dan Rivera. While on the Devils on the Run Tour featuring…
Sewage discharges to halve by 2030 in ‘water revolution’, minister pledges
The government is preparing a “water revolution” that will halve the number of times sewage is discharged into waterways in England and Wales by 2030, the environment secretary has said. Steve Reed told the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg that the water sector was “broken” and the regulator, Ofwat, was “clearly failing”. The “reset” would…
China Powers AI Boom with Undersea Data Centers
China Is Putting Data Centers in the Ocean to Keep Them Cool China is pulling ahead of the rest of the world in sinking data centers that power AI into the ocean as an alternate way to keep them cool By You Xiaoying edited by Andrea Thompson The underwater data center off the coast of…
Japan votes in a key election as Prime Minister Ishiba faces a possible loss
By The Associated Press TOKYO — Japanese were voting Sunday for seats in the smaller of Japan’s two parliamentary houses in a key election with Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and his ruling coalition facing a possible defeat that could worsen the country’s political instability. Voters were deciding half of the 248 seats in the upper…
Typhoon Wipha hits Hong Kong bringing on highest storm alert
Authorities axe flights and school classes as typhoon closes in, with China’s Hainan and Guangdong provinces also on high alert Hong Kong issued its highest tropical cyclone warning as Typhoon Wipha battered the city, with authorities cancelling school classes and grounding hundreds of flights. Wipha was located around 60km south-east of Hong Kong as of…
Julianne Hough’s Revelations: What She’s Said About Love, Loss & More
Julianne Hough is stepping into a new chapter. Celebrate the Dancing With the Stars host’s birthday by reading what she’s shared about her childhood, career, relationships and more. Julianne Hough is letting her hair down. In fact, the Dancing With the Stars host—who celebrates her 37th birthday July 20—has noted how her signature bob is…
‘Donkey Kong Bananza’ – Not Just the Same Old Kong
My only disappointment regarding the recent launch of the Nintendo Switch 2 didn’t have anything to do with the lack of an OLED screen or the Joy-Con 2 construction or even the battery life. Indeed, it wasn’t hardware-related in the slightest. My one knock against the system was that Donkey Kong Bananza, a game that…
Home secretary pledges new power to stop violent attackers
The home secretary says a powerful new crime to target suspects who are found to be preparing mass killings will ensure their plotting is taken as seriously as terrorism. Terror suspects who take steps towards an attack can be jailed for life, even if their plans are not fully formed. Cooper told the BBC that…
Federal opposition flags more ‘sensitive’ approach to foreign students at Australian universities
New Coalition education spokesperson Jonathon Duniam says Peter Dutton policy to slash international enrolments not ‘as constructive as it could have been’ Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast The Coalition has walked away from its call for Australia to slash 80,000 international students from higher education institutions, with the opposition’s…
How Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act Will Raise Energy Costs, Carbon Emissions
Higher Bills, Hotter Planet: What Trump’s Megabill Means for You Household energy expenses will rise, as will greenhouse gas emissions, as a result of the Trump administration’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act By Benjamin Storrow & E&E News Join Our Community of Science Lovers! CLIMATEWIRE | The sweeping budget bill signed by President Donald Trump…
Sophia Bush Reacts to Real Housewives of Beverly Hills Invite
Sophia Bush revealed at the Create & Cultivate festival that friend Bozoma Saint John asked her to appear on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, but she hilariously missed the text message. Sophia Bush might need a new tagline. The One Tree Hill alum revealed that she received an invite to appear on The Real…
Cuts to public media will smash budgets of some local radio stations
Frank Langfitt DUNMORE, West Virginia — When President Trump pushed to slash federal funding for public media, he said a key reason was because he thinks PBS and NPR are politically biased. But some of those hardest hit by Congress’ decision last week to clawback $1.1 billion in federal funds are small radio operations that…
Charli XCX Marries The 1975’s George Daniel in Town Hall Ceremony
Charli XCX tied the knot with The 1975’s George Daniel during an intimate ceremony at London’s Hackney Town Hall on July 19. Read on for more details from their sweet ceremony. Brat summer looks a little bit different this year. Because instead of hopping from club to club in her lime green accessories, Charli XCX—whose…
Trinidad and Tobago declares second state of emergency, citing gang threat
Police commissioner says there has been intelligence of formation of organised crime syndicate intent on havoc Trinidad and Tobago has declared its second state of emergency this year amid “grave concerns” about a coordinated threat from organised crime gangs inside and outside the country’s prisons. Announcing the decision on Friday, the commissioner of police, Allister…
Dozens killed by Israeli gunfire near aid sites in south Gaza, Hamas-run ministry says
At least 32 Palestinians seeking food have been killed by Israeli gunfire near two aid distribution points close to Khan Younis and Rafah in southern Gaza, according to the territory’s Hamas-run health ministry. Dozens were also injured near the two sites run by the controversial US and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), it said. The…
Three-Person Mitochondrial IVF Leads to Eight Healthy Births
Eight Healthy Children Born Using Three-Person IVF Technique Long-awaited results of a three-person IVF technique suggest that mitochondrial donation can prevent babies from inheriting diseases caused by mutant mitochondria By Ewen Callaway & Nature magazine Eight children in the United Kingdom are living healthy lives — potentially due to a ground-breaking but controversial reproductive procedure…
Trump calls for the release of Jeffrey Epstein grand jury testimony
Anastasia Tsioulcas After intense public pressure and criticism from lawmakers on both sides of the political spectrum, President Trump has called for a federal judge to release grand jury testimony related to the disgraced late financier Jeffrey Epstein, who was accused of sexually trafficking children. The Department of Justice has also formally asked the federal…
Man whose car struck crowd outside Los Angeles club, injuring 30, was shot, attacked by crowd
By The Associated Press LOS ANGELES — A vehicle rammed into a crowd of people waiting to enter a nightclub along a busy boulevard in Los Angeles early Saturday, injuring 30 people and leading bystanders to attack the driver, authorities said. The driver was later found to have been shot, according to Los Angeles police,…
HalloweenCostumes.com Reveals Massive Wave of Animatronics for 2025
Earlier this Spring, HalloweenCostumes.com introduced a small selection of new animatronics, with a promise of two additional waves of reveals to come soon after. Well, the tariff situation seemed to have affected their timing, and no additional animatronics were immediately forthcoming. But this week, HalloweenCostumes.com are back with a vengeance, with the debut of their…
Rubio moves to strip US visas from eight Brazilian judges in Bolsonaro battle
Move by Marco Rubio is latest attempt by Trump administration to help former president avoid justice over alleged coup The US secretary of state, Marco Rubio, has reportedly stripped eight of Brazil’s 11 supreme court judges of their US visas as the White House escalates its campaign to help the country’s former president Jair Bolsonaro…
The Lowdown on Labubu: What to Know About the Viral Toy
Ever heard of Labubu? Scroll through social media and you’ll likely come across unboxing videos or clips of shoppers waiting in long lines to get one. Read about the viral toy and fashion accessory. They may be cute, but don’t let their nine-tooth smiles fool you: Labubus are bringing in serious business. Created by artist Kasing Lung…
Dropout.tv’s Brennan Lee Mulligan Brings Dungeons and Dragons to the Masses
The Surprising Science of Dungeons and Dragons Dropout.tv’s Brennan Lee Mulligan talks about the emotional and cultural importance of Dungeons and Dragons. By Rachel Feltman, Kelso Harper, Fonda Mwangi & Alex Sugiura Rachel Feltman: For Scientific American’s Science Quickly, I’m Rachel Feltman. Last April I spent a harrowing hour of my life trying to get…
Syrian presidency announces ceasefire after deadly sectarian clashes in south
The Syrian presidency has announced an “immediate ceasefire” in the southern city of Suweida to try to bring an end to a week of sectarian violence that has left hundreds dead. There have been chaotic gun battles on city streets between the local Bedouin tribesmen and the Druze community, with both accused of atrocities. Graphic…
Can You Drink Saturn’s Rings?
The UniverseFridays Can You Drink Saturn’s Rings? It’s certainly possible to consume water sourced from the icy rings of Saturn, but doing so safely may require extra steps By Phil Plait edited by Lee Billings Saturn’s rings are mostly composed of chunks of water ice—but that doesn’t mean you could easily drink from them. Stay…
These Clueless Secrets Will Leave You Totally Buggin’
E! News not honoring the 30th anniversary of Clueless? The 1995 Alicia Silverstone film we’re majorly, totally, butt-crazy in love with? As if! You’ll want to totally pause and take these facts in. Somehow it’s been three full decades since a total Betty sauntered into our lives, bringing with her an entirely new vernacular, the…
Should you buy it? If you answer ‘yes’ to these questions, probably not
By Marielle Segarra , Malaka Gharib Many of us know the old adage to save money: Buy what you need, not what you want. But even when money is tight, it’s a hard rule to follow. It’s OK to buy what you want every now and then, but the key is to be intentional, says…
Malaria ‘back with a vengeance’ in Zimbabwe as number of deaths from the disease triple
Withdrawal of USAID funds threatens decades of progress, say experts, with cuts to research and shortage of mosquito nets putting thousands at risk across the country Zimbabwe’s efforts to control malaria have been dealt a huge blow as experts say the disease has returned “with a vengeance” after US aid cuts, with 115 outbreaks recorded…
Why the Epstein case looms large in MAGA world
When Jack Posobiec walked into the Department of Justice in Washington, DC last February, he thought he would finally get some answers about Jeffrey Epstein. But when he and other MAGA supporters were given essentially just rehashed, already-public material – and when the government put a damper on the release of any new information this…
Trump administration asks court to release some Epstein documents
The US justice department has asked a judge to unseal material related to sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, following intense criticism of the Trump administration’s handling of the case. The request concerns transcripts from the grand jury involved in the government’s 2019 sex trafficking case against Epstein, materials that are typically kept secret and protected by…
Funding cuts will hit rural areas hard. One station manager explains how
By Juana Summers , Tinbete Ermyas , Jordan-Marie Smith NPR’s Juana Summers speaks with Tom Michael, general manager of Boise State Public Radio, about what the cuts to federal public media funding mean for his station. JUANA SUMMERS, HOST: Shortly after midnight, the House approved a Trump administration plan to cancel $9 billion in previously…
Wrestler Marcus “Buff” Bagwell Undergoes Leg Amputation
World Championship Wrestling alum Marcus “Buff” Bagwell explained his decision to amputate his right leg above the knee after being injured in a 2020 car wreck, instead of undergoing more surgeries. Marcus “Buff” Bagwell has made a difficult decision on his health. The World Championship Wrestling star revealed that after a “five-year-long journey” of trying…
This Number System Beats Binary, But Most Computers Can’t Use It
This Number System Beats Binary, But Most Computers Can’t Use It Why do computers only work with the numbers 0 and 1? There are machines that process three digits with more efficiency than you might expect By Manon Bischoff edited by Daisy Yuhas The Babylonians used separate combinations of two symbols to represent every single…
Caracas releases 10 Americans as Venezuelans freed from El Salvador jail
Scores of Venezuelans deported by US to El Salvador repatriated as Marco Rubio hails return of Americans Venezuela released 10 jailed Americans on Friday in exchange for getting home scores of migrants deported by the United States to El Salvador months ago under the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown. The resolution represents a diplomatic achievement for…
Boy, 10, dead as nine in hospital after coach crash
A school’s head teacher says she feels “complete devastation” after one of her pupils was killed in a coach crash. A 10-year-old boy died after a coach returning pupils to Minehead Middle School after a trip to Exmoor Zoo crashed in Somerset on Thursday. Six other children remain in hospital – two at Bristol Children’s…
New U.S. Postal Service head says he doesn’t believe in privatizing the mail agency
Hansi Lo Wang Trump administration talk of transforming the U.S. Postal Service has set off a flurry of concerns about the future of the federal mail agency. The new leader of USPS is now trying to clear the air. “I do not believe that the Postal Service should be privatized or that it should become…
Tests that AIs Often Fail and Humans Ace Could Pave the Way for Artificial General Intelligence
AI’s Achilles Heel—Puzzles Humans Solve in Seconds Often Defy Machines Discover why some puzzles stump supersmart AIs but are easy for humans, what this reveals about the quest for true artificial general intelligence—and why video games are the next frontier By Deni Ellis Béchard edited by Dean Visser There are many ways to test the…
NFL Star Ryan Russell’s Boyfriend Corey O’Brien Shares Dating Update
NFL star Ryan Russell’s boyfriend of six years Corey O’Brien joked that he still doesn’t “know anything about football other than the fact that he tackles me.” Ryan Russell and Corey O’Brien are still total relationship field goals. In fact, Corey recently shared a glimpse into his relationship with the former Dallas Cowboys defensive end…
Trump administration to destroy nearly $10m of contraceptives for women overseas
As part of president’s end to foreign aid, destruction of the long-acting contraceptives will cost US taxpayers $167,000 The Trump administration has decided to destroy $9.7m worth of contraceptives rather than send them abroad to women in need. A state department spokesperson confirmed that the decision had been made – a move that will cost…
Trump threatens to sue over article about Epstein. And, what’s next for public media
By Brittney Melton here to get it delivered to your inbox, and listen to the Up First podcast for all the news you need to start your day. The House approved a rescission plan last night to claw back $9 billion in previously allocated funds. This plan includes cutting federal support for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting,…
Bolsonaro ordered to wear ankle tag over fears he may abscond as coup trial nears end
Guilty verdict widely expected for Brazil’s ex-president accused of plot to seize power after losing 2022 election Federal police have raided Jair Bolsonaro’s Brasília mansion, banned him from communicating with foreign diplomats and ordered him to wear an electronic ankle tag amid fears Brazil’s ex-president may abscond to avoid punishment over an alleged coup attempt.…
Love Is Blind Season 9 Premiere Date Revealed
After the most recent season of Love Is Blind ended in March, the Netflix show has revealed its next premiere date. See every detail about the upcoming season nine. It’s nearly time to get back in the pods. Netflix recently announced its next string of reality show premieres, the ninth installment of Love Is Blind…
Can U.S. Math Research Survive NSF Funding Cuts?
Math Is Quietly in Crisis over NSF Funding Cuts A 72 percent reduction in federal funding is devastating to math research. The American Mathematical Society is offering $1 million in backstop grants—but it’s likely not enough. By Emma R. Hasson edited by Allison Parshall The U.S. National Science Foundation has made devastating cuts to mathematics…
Doctor and husband jailed for selling stolen PPE on eBay
An NHS doctor and her husband have been jailed for 10 months each after selling stolen hospital PPE on eBay during the Covid pandemic. Dr Attiya Sheikh, 46, and 48-year-old Omer Sheikh made almost £8,000 from selling the personal protective equipment as the virus was spreading throughout the UK in 2020. The pair admitted selling…
Ask your kids’ camps these key questions about heat and flood safety, experts say
Julia Simon The deaths of at least 27 children and staff at Camp Mystic in Kerr County, Texas have some parents and guardians questioning the safety of summer camps, especially as global warming increases risks of extreme weather. Part of summer camp’s allure is that children are outside in nature. But that can also raise…
Review – Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #41 – Things Get Bizarre
Ray: Mark Waid is a master of DC continuity, so it’s no surprise that he easily shifts between tones and genres when he needs to. Last issue was a great done-in-one kaiju adventure and media satire, but this issue throws us right into a horror movie. Robin is alone on another world, being stalked by…
General Hospital’s Tristan Rogers Diagnosed With Cancer
Tristan Rogers, who has appeared on the daytime soap opera General Hospital as Robert Scorpio in more than 1,400 episodes since 1980, has been diagnosed with cancer, according to his rep. One General Hospital star has received a new medical diagnosis. Tristan Rogers, who made his first of over 1,400 appearances on the soap opera…
New Thermal Hole Opens at Yellowstone National Park
There’s a New Hole in the Ground at Yellowstone National Park The park’s newest hydrothermal feature has an otherworldly milky texture from dissolved silica By Stephanie Pappas edited by Jeanna Bryner A new thermal pool in the Porcelain Basin area of Norris Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park, shown here, likely formed in a series of…
Serious pollution incidents by water companies up 60% last year
Serious pollution incidents by water companies have risen 60% in a year, according to the Environment Agency. In total there were 2,801 pollution incidents in England in 2024, the highest on record, compared with 2,174 in 2023. Of these, 75 were considered to pose “serious or persistent” harm to fisheries, drinking water and human health…
Restaurant in China criticised for putting baby lion cuddles on menu
Diners jump at chance to snuggle with cubs but wildlife experts accuse firm of ‘exploiting wild animals for selfies’ A restaurant in northern China has been criticised by animal welfare groups for offering an unusual item on the menu: lion cub cuddles. According to a screenshot of a menu circulating on social media, Wanhui –…
Review – Zatanna #6: The Final Curtain
Ray: Jamal Campbell’s solo writer-artist debut has been characterized by brilliant art and a dense but coherent story, but it’s also adding one key thing to Zatanna’s mythos – our first look at her mother Sindella and her role in Zatanna’s upbringing. In most versions, she dies very early and Zatanna’s father plays a much…
British spies and SAS named in Afghan data breach
The identities of more than 100 British officials, including members of the special forces and MI6, were compromised in a data breach that also put thousands of Afghans at risk of reprisal, it can be reported. The latest fallout from the breach was kept secret by an injunction until Thursday, when the order was lifted…
Risk of undersea cable attacks backed by Russia and China likely to rise, report warns
Spate of incidents in Baltic Sea and around Taiwan are harbinger for further disruptive activity, cybersecurity firm says The risk of Russia- and China-backed attacks on undersea cables carrying international internet traffic is likely to rise amid a spate of incidents in the Baltic Sea and around Taiwan, according to a report. Submarine cables account…
Can AI help protect nature?
Despite risks, tool has ‘enormous potential’ for good, a Conservation International expert says. In her own words, Ali Swanson is a “tech skeptic.” Conservation News spoke with Swanson to unpack the perils and promise of integrating AI with conservation. Conservation News: What problems can artificial intelligence solve for conservation? Second, AI can help us both…
Henry Cavill Makes Rare Comment on Baby Girl With Natalie Viscuso
Six months after Henry Cavill welcomed his first baby with girlfriend Natalie Viscuso, the Justice League star spoke out on life in his “forever home” with his family and their two dogs. It’s a bird! It’s a plane! No, it’s Henry Cavill getting candid about fatherhood! The Man of Steel star made a rare comment…
What Is Chronic Venous Insufficiency, Trump’s Blood Vessel Condition?
What Is the Blood Vessel Disease Trump Is Diagnosed With? After photographs showed President Donald Trump with swollen ankles and bruised hands, the White House revealed he has chronic venous insufficiency—a blood vessel disease that affects circulation in the legs By Meghan Bartels & Lauren J. Young U.S. president Donald Trump meets with French president…
CBS will end ‘The Late Show with Stephen Colbert’ next year
Mandalit del Barco While taping his Thursday show, host Stephen Colbert made the surprising announcement that CBS is ending his late night show in May. The live audience at New York’s Ed Sullivan Theater booed when he delivered the news that this would be the show’s final season. “Yeah, I share your feelings,” he told…
Brain Activity Patterns Reveal Why Waking Up from Sleep Can Be So Difficult
Brain Science Reveals Why Waking Up Can Be Such a Struggle Neuroscientists have found that the brain can wake up in different ways, explaining why some mornings feel like a dream and some feel like a disaster By Katie Kavanagh & Nature magazine Join Our Community of Science Lovers! How does your brain wake up…
Review – Batman and Robin: Year One #9 – War at Castle Grimaldi
Ray: I was surprised when this series turned into an ongoing – after all, how much mileage can Waid and Samnee get out of the early days of Dick Grayson’s time as Robin? It turns out the answer is – a lot. A big part of this is that they have some really good villains…